Denny Hamlin Prepares for Daytona 500 Amid Grief and Injury

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Denny Hamlin, the veteran NASCAR Cup Series driver seeking his fourth Daytona 500 victory, spoke openly this week about navigating grief and injury as he prepares for Sunday's season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway.

The 45-year-old Hamlin, who has competed in the event 21 times, enters the 2025 race after a tumultuous offseason marked by personal loss and professional battles. On December 29, his father, Dennis Hamlin, died at age 75 in a house fire in Stanley, North Carolina, about 20 miles northwest of Charlotte. Dennis had been terminally ill, and the fire also critically injured Hamlin's mother, Mary Lou, though she has since improved. Hamlin relocated her to Florida with his family for recovery. While sifting through the rubble of the destroyed two-story home, Hamlin aggravated a preexisting tear in his right shoulder muscle. He plans to race through the pain, postponing surgery until the offseason, and expects no immediate impact on his performance.

The tragedy compounded an already challenging period for Hamlin. He co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, and the team, alongside Front Row Motorsports, pursued a federal antitrust lawsuit...